ATLANTA 2015 AA International Convention

The Fourth of July holiday weekend is indeed a celebration this year. It is also the year that Alcoholics Anonymous celebrates “80 Years of Happy, Joyous and Free” sobriety with their 2015 AA International Convention in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia. Attendees can look forward to four days of formal and informal meetings and fellowship steeped in a foundation of protected anonymity. This hallmark of AA — its members’ anonymity — allows you to enjoy both formal and informal activities within the safe and non-judgmental environment.

Festivities All Weekend Long

Begin the celebration with a “Party in the Park” Thursday evening in Centennial Olympic Park, located beside the Georgia Convention Center. Full days of topic meetings are slated for both Friday and Saturday with informal plays that highlight many of the most beloved principles of AA will be performed each evening. A Closing Meeting wraps up the convention at 11:30 Sunday morning.

Attending the AA Convention

Attending your first sober convention can evoke a mixture of conflicting emotions. You might be excited and frightened at the same time. The excitement will only build as you enjoy events that celebrate your sobriety. Tackle your fears by implementing a few — or all! — of the tips below.

• Wear something special: There a reason why dressing for success is such a frequently used phrase. Wear a favorite ball cap that celebrates your sobriety or that favorite piece of jewelry that embraces your sobriety milestones.
• Bring something from home: Taking your morning coffee or tea in your favorite Serenity Prayer cup or travel mug can help start your day off on the right foot. Tackle homesickness at night by snuggling in your cozy fleece blanket as you drift off to sleep each night.
• Stake out a safe spot and take a break: Attending a sober convention might be overwhelming. Pack a small backpack with a book or other AA reading material, grab a snack and find an unused couch to take a step back from all the activity when it starts to overwhelm you.
• YOU can always look for a My 12 Step Store location and we will greet you!
• HALT- Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, Tired – can happen if you don’t take care of the basics: It can be tempting to go nonstop from morning until the wee hours of the night in an attempt to see and do everything. Instead, pick and choose the activities that you take part in. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat well and stay hydrated so that you have the energy to enjoy yourself.
• Remember if you’re having overwhelming feelings, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
• Make sure you stop by and say Hi at our 3 locations!
  • Sober Village located at 157 Luckie St (across from Centennial Park)
  • Sober City – Luckie and Spring St (at the Ferris wheel Tabernacle)
  • Sober Store Expo – 82 Andrew Young International Blvd (next to Holiday Inn) This one is indoors with air conditioning.